Arthur Cohen is the Founder and CEO of LaPlaca Cohen. He oversees the company’s research project, Culture Track, an ongoing study tracking the shifting attitudes and behaviors of cultural audiences in the United States. In this episode, Arthur and Erik discuss the findings of LaPlaca Cohen and Slover Linett’s recent Culture Track study. This survey of arts audiences and the wider U.S. public seeks to answer a range of urgent, complex questions about how arts and culture fits into the hearts, minds, and social lives of Americans during these uncertain times. 

Britton Smith is an actor who has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally. He is also the President and co-founder of the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, which builds the capacity of directly impacted advocates, artists, students, organizations, and communities to use the arts as an integral part of their social change work. In this episode, Britton and Erik talk about the recent Broadway for Black Lives Matter virtual forum, a public conversation about racism in theater that brought together thousands of industry players. The forum's mission was to "heal, listen, and hold itself accountable to its history of white supremacy while moving towards becoming an anti-racist and equitable space."

Anastasia Boudanoque is a classical talent manager, producer, and impresario who has been involved in the careers of some of the most compelling performers of our time. In this episode, Anastasia and Erik discuss how online views of classical music content have skyrocketed during the pandemic. This data suggests a much larger interest than previously assumed and a much higher potential for engagement with the art form.

Robert Barry Fleming is the new Executive Artistic Director at Actors Theatre of Louisville. A native Kentuckian, this is his first year at Actors Theatre after serving as Associate Artistic Director of the Cleveland Play House and Director of Artistic Programming at Arena Stage. He previously worked as a producer, director, choreographer, performer, and teacher. Tune in to his weekly podcast, Borrowed Wisdom, which asks what we can learn from one another. In this episode, Robert and Erik discuss his bold, new, modern vision for Actors Theatre of Louisville as its first queer, Black leader. Throughout the conversation, they address how capitalism, equity, race, and theater history intersect.

Kamilah Forbes is an award-winning director and producer and serves as the Executive Producer of the World Famous Apollo Theater. In this episode, Kamilah and Erik speak about the Apollo's historic and current foundational role in American culture and the global Black community. They also discuss the Apollo's planned physical expansion, their evolution from a presenting house to a curatorial and residency non-profit venue working to develop a broader American canon, and the importance of getting comfortable with discomfort in this moment of historic change for cultural institutions.

In this episode, we reflect on the wisdom of six CI to Eye guests who have shared their thoughts on racism and inequity in the arts and suggested steps to ensure cultural organizations are becoming more equitable institutions. Listen to Full Episodes  President of the National Civil Rights Museum: Terri Lee FreemanListen Now   Multicultural Marketing Maven: Donna Walker-KuhneListen Now   Dissecting Privilege, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Traditional Orchestra World: Jessica SchmidtListen Now   Is Your Organization Anti-Racist?: Cardozie JonesListen Now   Examining White Fragility: Robin DiAngeloListen Now Classical Music’s Diversity Crisis: Afa DworkinListen Now

Drag superstar Jackie Beat has been entertaining audiences across the U.S. and in Europe for over thirty years with her razor-sharp comedy and hysterical song parodies. Jackie has written special material for the likes of Rosie O’Donnell, Margaret Cho, Sandra Bernhard, Patricia Arquette, Jennifer Coolidge, Elvira and more. In this episode, Erik interviews his favorite drag queen because arts administrators can learn a lot from Jackie about pivoting from live to digital programming and connecting on social media. Plus, at this point in quarantine, we can all use some laughs!

James Langley is the President of Langley Innovations, a strategic consulting and training firm,  which he founded to help institutions advance a philanthropic revolution. Over his career, James has worked with institutions across the country at different levels to help raise over $3 billion. In this episode, Erik and James discuss his humanistic view on philanthropy, which prioritizes long-term relationship-building over short-term results. Based on those principles, James shares how to authentically cultivate first-time donors—like those you may have acquired recently through refunded tickets or online fundraising campaigns—and evolve them into lifetime supporters.

Seth Godin is the author of 19 books that have been bestsellers around the world. He has five TED talks and is involved in projects that spread his wisdom and generosity, like the altMBA, The Marketing Seminar, and his podcast, Akimbo. His blog is one of the most popular in the world. In this episode, Seth Godin—one of Erik's heroes—shares his ideas for arts leaders in crisis and beyond. Please listen to these ideas carefully, think about them, and share them widely to unlock the future for the arts.

Colleen Dilenschneider is the publisher of Know Your Own Bone, the powerhouse website that provides data-driven insights about marketing, fundraising, engagement, and more for arts administrators. It's required reading for anyone working in arts and culture today. Colleen is also the Chief Market Engagement Officer at IMPACTS Research and Development, a data and technology company. In this episode, Erik asks Colleen to share her research about how COVID-19 is impacting intentions to visit cultural entities and which types of organizations attendees intend to visit post-crisis. She also revisits her data on why cutting marketing budgets during financial difficulties is the wrong move.

Matías Tarnopolsky is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Philadelphia Orchestra. He previously served as Vice President of Artistic Planning for the New York Philharmonic, Senior Director of Artistic Planning for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Producer for the BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Singers. Before temporarily closing its doors, The Philadelphia Orchestra gave a final performance on March 12, 2020, to an empty hall, yet still reached half a million people through livestream, video, and public radio. In this episode, Erik and Matías talk about how amid this crisis and beyond, every arts organization must transition to a media company.

Brett Egan is the President of the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland, where he provides training for arts leaders on strategic planning, fundraising, board development, and marketing. In this episode, Brett and Erik discuss the seven clear steps arts leaders should consider when institutions are being put to the ultimate test. Brett also provides his guidance around fundraising, marketing, programming, and leadership during this unprecedented time.   COVID-19 Resources for Arts Organizations:   Americans for the Arts Economic Impact Dashboard: https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-topic/disaster-preparedness/the-economic-impact-of-coronavirus-on-the-arts-and-culture-sector   Americans for the Arts COVID-19 Resource and Response Center: https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-topic/disaster-preparedness/coronavirus-covid-19-resource-and-response-center   Nonprofit Finance Fund COVID-19 Tools and Resources: https://nff.org/covid-19-tools-and-resources-nonprofits   CI to Eye with Zannie Voss: https://ideas.capacityinteractive.com/ci-to-eye-podcast-episodes/critical-research-for-arts-leaders-zannie-voss DeVos Institute of Arts Management COVID-19 Announcement: http://devosinstitute.umd.edu/What-We-Do/News-and-Announcements/Announcements/Announcements/COVID19%20Announcement

Anna Glass has been involved in the performing arts as both an artist and arts administrator for over twenty-five years. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem where she co-launched a collaborative initiative, with Virginia Johnson, addressing racial inequity in ballet. In this episode, Anna and Erik talk about the challenges of leading an organization through the loss of its founder. They also discuss how the Dance Theatre of Harlem came back from its hiatus and received its biggest gift yet, a $4 million grant from the Mellon Foundation, to hire more dancers and grow its administrative staff.

Adam Roberts is Co-Founding Artistic Director of Austin-based TILT Performance Group, a theatre company comprised of paid adult performers with disabilities. In this episode, Adam and Erik talk about the branding and positioning of the company. They also discuss what other arts organizations can learn about working with people with disabilities and how Adam and his colleagues have built a growing company with such loyalty that season tickets actually cost more per production than single tickets.

With more than 70 episodes, it can be overwhelming to dive into CI to Eye. This short episode highlights the archive so you can prioritize episodes that make the most sense for you. From leadership to marketing, fundraising and ED&I, there is something for every arts administrator at any career level.

Emily Simoness is the Founder and Executive Director of SPACE on Ryder Farm, a nonprofit artist residency program and organic farm located on a 225-year-old, 127-acre family homestead in Putnam County, New York. Artists from all over are invited to live and work on the farm, with the space and time they need to create their art. In this episode, Emily and Erik talk about how SPACE on Ryder Farm transformed from an idea into one of the premier centers for the development of new artistic work in the U.S. They also talk about the radical power of analog connection in our tech-obsessed world.

At Digital Marketing Boot Camp for the Arts 2019, we hosted a panel called Fostering Change in Your Organization. You may work in an organization that fears change or does not evolve as quickly as you would like. This session asked, "How can you enact change and develop a culture that embraces innovation?" Jennifer Zaslow, Erik's executive coach and a two-time guest on CI to Eye moderated a panel that included: Terri Lee Freeman, President of the National Civil Rights Museum  Andrew Haines, Director of Marketing & Communications at Seattle Rep Lynette Shy, Director of Marketing, Sales, & Communications at BalletMet

At Digital Marketing Boot Camp for the Arts 2019,  we hosted a panel called “Should Your Arts Organization Produce a Podcast?” With podcast listenership on the rise, we wanted to hear from arts administrators about their efforts producing podcasts. Alison Goldberg, Consultant at Capacity Interactive, interviewed three arts administrators about their organizations podcasting efforts: Laura Diffenderfer, Associate Director, Content Strategy, The Joyce Theater Elke Dehner, Director of Marketing and Communications, The Rubin Museum of Art Meg Stoltz, Digital Marketing Manager, Seattle Opera

After more than a decade of serving in marketing leadership roles at arts organizations across the country, Sean Kelly is now the Founder of Vatic, a company that provides automated dynamic pricing software for the performing arts. In this episode, Sean and Erik discuss what Sean's tenure at Starbucks taught him about using data to understand patrons, why people who work in the arts should not be choosing ticket prices, and what your patrons are telling you through their ticket-buying behavior.

Peter Linett is the President of Slover Linett Audience Research, a firm of social researchers who work with performing arts organizations and museums to help them become more inclusive, innovative, and relevant. In this episode, Peter and Erik discuss some recent studies that examine how consumers decide which arts events to attend. They unpack why uncertainty is a more significant barrier for audiences than unfamiliarity and how marketing and positioning can help audiences overcome that uncertainty. They also discuss how arts organizations can adapt to meet the needs of 21st-century audiences.

Terri Lee Freeman is the President of the National Civil Rights Museum, where she works to emphasize the connection between the historic events of the mid-20th century Civil Rights Movement and the current issues affecting society today. In this episode, Terri and Erik dive into the history of the National Civil Rights Museum, how it aims to carry on the legacy of Dr. King and other leaders of the Civil Rights movement, and the museum's role in helping people connect the past to the present. They also discuss the need to be "apologetically human" by owning up to our mistakes and adopting a growth mindset.

As Director of Customer Experience at The Cleveland Orchestra, Robert Phillips leads efforts in creating a new vision for the arts and culture customer experience. He previously led similar efforts at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and The 5th Avenue Theatre. Robert has also worked in hospitality consulting for BARE International and FreemanGroup Solutions. In this episode, Robert and Erik discuss what the arts can learn from the hospitality industry and how The Cleveland Orchestra has made customer service part of its organizational culture.  Robert also explains why arts organizations can benefit from focusing less on service recovery, less on "surprise and delight" and more on the everyday interactions with patrons.

Mark Price is the Founder of Alchemy Collective. After 20 years as a musical theater performer, Mark discovered Vedic meditation and it turned his life around. He decided to dedicate his life to sharing this knowledge with others. In this episode, Mark and Erik talk about why successful people meditate and how Vedic meditation differs from other practices. Mark also shares a few techniques to help cultivate present-mind awareness from the comfort of your own desk.

Diane Ragsdale is a faculty director of the Cultural Leadership Program at Banff Center for Arts & Creativity; an assistant professor and program director for the Masters in Arts Management & Entrepreneurship program at the New School in NYC; and a frequent speaker, blogger, writer, and adviser on a range of arts and culture topics. She previously worked in philanthropy and ran two cultural institutions. She is a doctoral candidate at Erasmus University in the Netherlands, where she lectured from 2011-2015. In this episode, Diane and Erik explore the relationship between beauty and human development. They also question the distinctive purpose of the nonprofit professional arts, the conflation of mission and venue, and the problem of "permanently failing arts organizations."

Sir Clive Gillinson is the Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall. He oversees all aspects of the Hall's artistic, education, and social impact programming as well as the management of the world-renowned music venue. In his fourteen years at the helm of the 128-year-old institution, Clive has been looking ahead to the future with the Hall's potential to influence music and music education around the world. In this episode, Clive and Erik discuss Clive's unexpected but monumental career in arts administration. They also talk about the significance of asking the right questions rather than looking for the answers, how partnership is vital to Carnegie Hall's success, and why money follows a vision.

Cardozie Jones is the founding principal of True North EDI, a consulting firm committed to equity, diversity, and interdependence. Cardozie has worked with the Capacity Interactive team as well as many other organizations on the practices, policies, and systems that have the potential to create inequity and exclusion in our workplaces and society. In this episode, Cardozie and Erik talk about the societal influences that inform how we experience the world. They also discuss how to distinguish between diversity and representation and the protocols that keep us from having productive and meaningful conversations about race.

Melissa Cowley Wolf is the director of Arts Funders Forum (AFF), a new initiative from advisory firm M+D designed to increase private support for arts and culture in the United States. She’s also the founder of MCW Projects, dedicated to expanding the next generation of philanthropists and cultural audiences around the world. In this episode, Melissa and Erik talk about the findings of a recent survey conducted by the Arts Funders Forum and M+D, including millennial giving behaviors, how the cultural sector can adapt to engage a new donor class, and why collaboration and transparency among arts institutions, funders, artists, and communities, are critical to the success of the arts in the 21st century.

Mark Schaefer is a globally-recognized business consultant and author. His customized programs specialize in content marketing, digital marketing, social media, and personal branding. Mark is the author of six best-selling marketing books, and his most recent release, Marketing Rebellion: the Most Human Company Wins, is a must-read for arts marketers. In this episode, Mark and Erik talk about how your most loyal patrons are your marketing department, the difference between “personalized” and “truly personal,” and the five human truths that businesses must understand to succeed in the 21st century.

Deborah Cullinan is the CEO of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), the cultural anchor of San Francisco's Yerba Buena Gardens development. By using culture as an instrument for social change, YBCA is reimagining the role an arts institution can play in the community it serves. In this episode, Deborah and Erik discuss Yerba Buena Center for the Arts’ position as a cultural incubator and the role of change management in nurturing organizational health. They also talk about the iterative evolution of an organization's mission and website.

Lily Weiss is the Executive Director of the Dallas Arts District, the largest contiguous arts community in the United States. Six different Pritzker Prize-winning architects have designed buildings in the district, which spans 19 blocks in the northeast corner of downtown Dallas. In this episode, Lily and Erik talk about the history of the Dallas Arts District. They also discuss why collaboration among arts organizations in the district is vital, and how auxiliary elements like parking, dining, and transportation impact patron participation.

Lisa Niedermeyer is the Producing Director for Disability Dance Works, a production company founded by disabled dancer Alice Sheppard to launch art experiences at the intersection of disability, technology, and design. In this episode, Lisa and Erik talk about why it's important to have meaningful cultural experiences centered around disability. They also discuss how venues can create "joy equity" experiences and how digital experiences should be compatible with assistive technologies.

Darren Sussman is the co-founder of the Institute of Financial Wellness for the Arts (IFWA). The IFWA provides financial education and personal planning solutions to artists and arts professionals. Before launching the IFWA, Darren was the co-founder and president of TheaterMania and OvationTix. In this episode, Darren and Erik talk about why it’s crucial for arts professionals to have the freedom of financial wellness. They also discuss financial planning offense and defense (trigger warning: sports metaphor) and growth lessons from Darren’s years at TheaterMania and OvationTix.

Dr. Robin DiAngelo is the bestselling author of White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism and Is Everybody Really Equal?: An Introduction to Key Concepts in Social Justice Education. Dr. DiAngelo has been a consultant and trainer for over 20 years on racial and social justice issues. In this episode, Robin and Erik talk about why diversity is essential among those who control the art and entertainment we consume. They also discuss combatting white solidarity among our peers, why claiming color-blindness can contribute to a continued bias, and acknowledging white fragility to overcome it.

Ronnie Brooks is the founding Director of the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute in Saint Paul Minnesota. In that role, she has worked with many arts leaders and their organizations to help them clarify their core values and better focus the purpose of their work. Since her formal retirement earlier this year, she has put her extensive experience to use as a strategic planning, leadership development, and nonprofit governance consultant. In this episode, Erik and Ronnie talk about the necessity of taking care of yourself in order to become a more effective and leader, the importance of aligning your actions with your core values, and the need for creativity and vitality among leaders to meet the vast challenges of nonprofit work. If you’re looking to become a better and more fulfilled leader, this episode is for you.

John Schreiber is an Emmy and Tony Award-winning producer and the President and CEO of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). NJPAC is the state’s largest cultural institution which presents over 600 events each season and reaches over 100,000 students annually. In this episode, Erik and John talk about the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s innovative use of real estate development to help fund and further their mission. They also discuss programming for diverse audiences, structuring an effective board, and the importance of mission alignment.

Linda Shelton has been the Executive Director of The Joyce Theater Foundation since 1993. She was highlighted as one of “The Most Influential People in Dance Today” by Dance Magazine in 2017. She also sits on the boards of Dance/NYC, Dance/USA, and has served as a Tony Awards nominator. Under her leadership, The Joyce received the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Liberty Award in 2011 and the William Dawson Award for Programmatic Excellence and Sustained Achievement in Programming in 2019. In this episode, Linda and Erik talk about developing the appropriate purview for a board of directors and the Joyce Theater’s community in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood. They also discuss the joint effort between Eliot Feld and Cora Cahan to transform the former movie house into a renowned home for dance.

Cameron Herold is an executive coach, best-selling author, and Founder of the COO Alliance. Cameron coaches leaders primarily in the commercial space but has valuable lessons to share with nonprofit arts managers about leadership, recruiting, and managing teams. In this episode, Erik and Cameron talk about the importance of hiring the right people to drive an organization’s success, the value of keeping employees happy, how to spend your hours at work efficiently, and establishing a company culture that is reflected externally as much as it is internally.

Ben Cameron is the President of the Jerome Foundation and former Program Director for the Arts at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, which received the National Medal for the Arts from President Barack Obama. Ben also has extensive expertise in grantmaking for the arts. In this episode, Erik and Ben talk about the ideal role of the Board of Directors, the importance of defining the values that underlie an organization’s mission, and how the arts can help create unity in our divisive political climate.

Since CI to Eye’s launch in 2017, Erik Gensler asks guests an important question at the end of each episode. He asks, “If you could broadcast to executive directors, leadership teams, staff, and board of 1,000 arts organizations, what advice would you provide to help them improve their business? This is called their CI to Eye moment, and we’ve compiled last year’s moments in this special episode.

Chris Boneau is the co-founder of Boneau/Bryan-Brown. Since founding his theatrical press agency with partner Adrian Bryan-Brown in 1991, Chris has represented over 400 plays and musicals which have won 222 Tony Awards and 11 Pulitzer Prizes. In this episode, Erik and Chris talk about his experience doing press for notable Broadway productions like Angels in America with director George C. Wolfe. They also discuss the challenges of pitching institutional stories, what it’s like to work with A-list celebrities, and how theater criticism has evolved.

Jessica Schmidt is the Principal Consultant at Orchestrate Inclusion. Before her work as a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant to arts organizations, she led education and community engagement work at Boston, Pittsburgh, and Dallas Symphony Orchestras. In this episode, Erik and Jessica talk about her experience implementing DEI initiatives in orchestras and processing change in a world that is often steeped in tradition. They also discuss how to broach difficult conversations, and define “privilege,” “microaggressions,” and other important DEI terms.

Eduardo Vilaro is the Artistic Director and CEO of Ballet Hispánico. He’s led the organization since 2009 but first joined the company as a dancer in 1985. Eduardo oversees both the artistic and administration of the company. In this episode, Erik and Eduardo talk about how the company’s emphasis on Latinx culture manifests throughout the organization, from what’s on stage, to the staff and board. They also discuss the politics of being a Latinx dance company in America today.

Dr. Andrew Simnick is the Senior Vice President for Finance, Strategy, and Operations at The Art Institute of Chicago. He and his team have applied data and analytics to decision-making across many areas of their organization, including building a fantastic model that can accurately predict weekly attendance at the museum. In this episode, Erik and Andrew talk about this model and other tools he and his team have built, the importance of starting not with data, but with the right questions, and ensuring your organizational culture is ready to put insights into action.

At Capacity Interactive, we get asked a lot of questions about digital marketing for arts organizations. In this episode, we have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions from our teams and asked our Vice President of Client Strategy, Ashley Dunn Gatterdam, to answer them with Erik. In this episode, Erik and Ashley talk about how you should approach benchmarking your results to your peers, why you should not be buying ads on your local newspaper’s website, how frequently to post on social media, and much more!

Karen Brooks Hopkins is the President Emerita of the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), where she worked from 1979 until her retirement in June 2015. Crain’s NY named her one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in New York.” Karen recently completed a term as a Senior Fellow in Residence at the Mellon Foundation, where she researched anchor institutions. She is also the author of the book, Successful Fundraising for Arts & Cultural Organizations. In this episode, Erik and Karen talk about how arts organizations should adopt an anchor mission to better serve their communities, and what an anchor institution is. They also discuss how chain stores are a threat to the future of cultural districts, and how running a successful fundraising campaign is very much like mounting a military operation.

Donna Walker-Kuhne is the founder Walker Communications, a marketing firm that provides Broadway shows and non-profit arts organizations with multicultural marketing and group sales consulting. She is also the author of Invitation to the Party: Building Bridges to Arts, Culture, and Community. In this episode, Erik and Donna discuss what the arts can learn from the film Black Panther, how she has worked with communities and churches to develop new audiences, and why creating a diverse and multicultural audience requires a budget and a firm commitment from executive leadership.

Harold Wolpert is the Executive Director of Signature Theatre, an Off-Broadway theater in New York City. Harold is new to his role at Signature after serving as the Managing Director at Roundabout Theatre Company for the last 11 years. Before that, he served in executive positions at Manhattan Theatre Club and the Alley Theatre in Texas. Harold was also the Vice President of the League of Resident Theaters. In this episode, Erik and Harold talk about the importance of demonstrating a healthy work/life balance as a leader, what it takes to cultivate successful partnerships with external providers, and how every patron touchpoint ultimately affects an organization's fundraising efforts.

Colleen Dilenschneider is the author and publisher of the popular website, Know Your Own Bone, and Chief Market Engagement Officer at IMPACTS Research. Colleen uses big data to help cultural organizations understand everything from what gets people off the couch, to what social channels potential patrons are using. This is a unique episode - it's a break from our typical Q&A format. We are sharing audio from Colleen's keynote session at 2017 Digital Marketing Boot Camp for the Arts. In this episode, Colleen discusses why digital engagement is anything but optional for arts organizations today. From increasing reputation to bumping satisfaction, driving attendance and securing donations, Colleen talks about how social media and digital engagement play significant roles in the solvency of cultural engagement. You can find the full video session on Capacity Interactive’s Facebook page.